Fire-escape.



C.l H. MORAND.

FIRE ESCAPE. l APPLICATION FILED NOV. I. 1913.

1 1 5 2,96 l Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Co.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

C. H. MORAND.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. l, 1913.

Patentedsept. 7, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANoaRAPl-x co..wAsHlNGTON, D. c.

c. H. MORAND.

FIRE ESCAPE. APPLlcATlON FILED No1/.1.1913l Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH C0..WA5HINOTON. D. C.

C. H. MORAND.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. I. I9I3.

1,152,961., PatentedSept. 7, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

HBHHNEHEHEHHHEHHEHHHH CHARLES n, IvroRAnn'oE Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patentea'-sept. *7, 1915.

k.Application iled November 1, 1913. SerialNo. 798,770.

To all 'whom it may concern.' j

Be it known that I, CHARLES HARRISON MoRAND, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of I ios Angeles and State of California, have 1nvented a new and useful Fire-Escape, of which -the following is a specification.

Heretofore, in many instances, it has been found impossiblev to use my hinged form of folding {ire-escape, embodied'in Patent No. 1,069,975, granted August 12, 1913, on account of street wires, adjacent buildings and other obstructions that render insuiiicient the available space in which to operate theat tachment.

An object of'this invention is to minimize the amount of space required in which `,to operate a fire escape ladder of this character and to this end I providea ladderiv having rails adapted toslide up and down to fold and unfold the steps of the ladder under a` deck. f

Another object is the provision of ladderhousing means to afford protection against snow, sleet and other inclemenciesof severe weather. e

Anotherfeature is the provision of disengageable means whereby the entire re-escape ladder may be drawn up intothe hous-y ing without folding, said folding'operation being very undesirable in coldv weather where vthe sliding step is impracticable on account of the ice .and snow. j

Another object is to provide sprinkling means adapted tofsprinklethe users of the nre-escape whenever re breaks from the building and over the fire-escape decks.

This invention may be carried out in various forms without departing from the general. scope thereof. n

The accompanying drawings illustrate the' invention.

Figure 1 is a broken front elevation of a fire-escape embodying the invention and mounted upon a building. Fig. 2 is a broken sectional elevation viewed from irregular line m2-2, Figs. 1 and 5. Dot-and-dash lines indicate parts of the ladder in a position assumed-during the course of folding or unfolding. Fig. 3 vis a view analogous to Fig. 2 showing the ladderin `folded position. Fig. it is a broken sectional elevation show-4 ing the ladder `in storedposition in ahous# ing. Fig. 54 is an enlarged broken fragmental plan sectionV from line'm5, Figs. 1,

2 Vand 6 illustrating the detachable guide means. Fig. .6is an enlargedbroken fragmental elevation viewed from line m6,Figs.

2 and 5, the wallfof the building being` omitted. Fig.-7 is an enlarged sectional detail from line m7, Figs. l, 2 andv 4L showing a fragment of one ofthe sprinkling rails.

Fig. 8 is a broken sectional elevation from line afs, Figs. 9 and 10 illustrating my sprinkling feature as applied to decks of an ordinary fire-escape. Fig. 9 is a broken fragmental plan view from line m9, Figs. 8 and -10. Fig.10 is a broken front elevation showing one of the decks of Fig. 8 together with its sprinkling connections. i

The foldingladder a. ofthe fire-escape comprises side yrails 1 having rollers 2 at ltheir lower ends, said rails being mounted in slidable relation to a support 3 as thelower platform of a fire-escape deck 4 by means of guides 5. having elongated eyes 6 thaty are adapted toaccommodate the side rails' in a j slanting position. Said guides are preferably made disengageable with the side rails and Aeach consist of two members 7 and 8 pivotally mounted adjacent each'otherby studs 9 to a cross piece 10 of the support 3. Each of said members has a semi-elliptical opening 11 in one sidethereof, these openings forming the elongated eye-6 when brought into register one with another as the members are turnedtogether aboutthe studs 9. Projecting lugs 12 at the free ends ofthe members are bored to receive a bolt 13 to securely hold `said members together.

The metal steps 14 are arranged to run along the siderails 1 and are provided with the flexible connections 15 and 15 to supj port the steps, the upper 'step being detach-v `ably connected by connection 15 to each of the'guide members 7 and the connections 15 extending between the front edge of each step and the rearedge of the next step below in succession so that as the side rails move `into an aslant position in the guides 5, as

shownv in Fig. 2, the steps willk run down along the side rails and come to rest properly spaced apart to form a stairway adapted to communicate with the deck 4 through the opening 16.

Hand rails 17 are hinged to standards 18 that are hinged to the side rails l1 and a flexible stay 19 connects eachyhand rail with its side rail to limit the movement of and hold said hand rails normal to the side rails when the latter are in an aslant position upon the ground. Thejside rails are spaced apart by spacers 20, the bottom one of which engages the bottom step when the tire-escape is folded up as shown in Fig. 3 to thereby support the remaining steps beneath the guides 5.

A line 21 is attached to the upper vends of the side rails and has branch connections 22 extending to the hand rails, said line 21 be-r ing led upward and `thence downward to a windlass device 23 fastened to thebuilding wall 241. The windlass drum 25 is connected with the spur gear26 driven by a pinion 27 meshing therewith and having a brake 28 and crank 29. A pin 30 slidable through the drum and seatable in a socket 31 in the base plate 32 affords means by which the drum may be locked from rotation.

lVhen it is desired to fold 'the lire-escape ladder up the windlass will be turned to wind up the line, the connections 22 folding the hand rails up as the line becomes taut and said line then drawing the side rails from the aslant position to the upright position, shown by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2, and thence upward through the guides 6 and through the openingy 16 in the platformr 3, the bottom step meanwhile engaging the bottom spacer 2O to support the remainino steps as they are piled up by the continued upward movementof the side rails. lVhen the side rails have been raised to thereX- tended position shown in Fig. 3 with the steps folded thereon under the guides 5 the pin 30 is inserted through the drum into the socket 31 and the apparatus is then out of the way. y

The ground adjacent the wall 24 to which the side rails are lowered preferably has a slight downward and outward slope so that as said side rails are gradually lowered by vmeans of the .brake 28 of the windlass, the

rollers upon touching the ground will readily roll away from the wall and carry the rails and steps into an aslant position where they will be held ready for use by the elongated eyes 6, as shown in Fig. 2.

Eyes 33 are provided in the upper portions of the side rails to carry the detachable step connection 15 when disconnected from the members 7 of the guides to there' by support the steps when said guides are disengaged from the side rails preparatory to storing. A housing 34 (see Fig. 4) eX- tendingthrough an opening 35 in the second deck 36 is secured to the wall 24 in any suitable manner and is provided with line holes in its top and an open mouth 37 at its lower end, said mouth being closed by a door 33 hinged at 39 and having a spring latch tov fasten said door over the mouth of the housing. This housing is provided for storage of the fire-escape ladder to afford protection against the inclemencies of severe weather. Said ladder is adapted to be drawn up into the housing without folding by the line 21, upon opening the guides 5 to free the side rails after removing the bolts 13 and detaching the connection 15 therefrom land connecting to the eyes 33. rThe guides may remain in this open position shown by dotted lines Fig. 5 during coldweather as, for instance, a whole winter season and in case of fire the stored ladder may be lowered first, onto the door 33 to open vthe same and then on through the mouth of the housing directly to thegrouucl' where the rollers 2 will carry the side rails into an aslant position as the line 21 is played out. The pin 30 will be inserted through the drum and into the socket 31 and the rails will then be supported by the line in position ready for use. Particular attention is ydirected to the combination with a platform elofy a housing 341 having an open mouth 37 at its lower end spaced apart from the platform, the shiftably mounted ladder a housed in the housing, the means as the lines 21 and their connections to lower and raise the ladder out of and intor said housing; said platform being constructed and arranged with relation to the housing so that in the lowered position said ladder will extend downward from said platform; a hinged door 38 for said open mouth below said housed ladder, said door being arranged tobe swung down by gravitational force of said ladder as the same is lowered; and the spring latch 40 releasably holding said door against down- Award swinging from its own gravity but being releasable by pressure of the ladder against the door when said ladder is being lowered. I have made provision for complete protection of the ladder against the weather and meddling interference, and at the same time have made provision for automatic discharge of the ladder from the housing immediately whenever any person `manipulates the lowering means to lower the ladder, said ladder being practically as free for use as though not housed. The side rails may be again drawn up into the housing without sliding the steps together if desired to store in cold weather, or the guides may be closed to engage the side rails preparatory to drawing the side rails up through the guides and folding the steps under the deck if desired to store in in warm weather. y

lt is thus seen that I have contrived a fire-escape suitable for both warm and cold weather, in which a ladder is provided having rails adapted to slide up and -down to fold and unfold the steps of the ladder under a deck, as will be the case when the hre-escape is used in warm weather; and in which a rladder may be stored in a housing without'folding where the folding operation is undesirableA as will be the case when the lire-escape isused in -cold weather on account of the impracticability of the sliding steps when exposedto icev and snow.

Attention is now called to` the novel means adapted to sprinkle the users or' the lire-escape in case of need which comprises the pipe structure decks 4 and 36. secured to the wall 24 by straps 41 or otherwise, the top pipe rails 42 of which are provided with perforations 43 arranged along the inner sides thereof and the decks are connected together by pipe limbs 44 and connected to a water main 45 by a pipe 46 having a valve 47 therein to open and close the water communication to said decks above. 1n case of fire the valve may be opened admitting water to the pipe decks through pipe 46 and limbs 44, and the perforated top rails will then emit a spray out over the decks so that a person using the ire-escape will be enveloped in a ne falling spray. This sprinkling feature is especially desirable during the use of the fire-escape when ire breaks out through doors and windows, not shown, opening onto the decks. Although two decks only and a connecting ladder 48 therebetween are illustrated in the drawings it is to be understood that the novel sprinkling means may be embodied with any number of decks as requirements demand.

` ln Figs. 8, 9 and l0 an arrangement is shown whereby the sprinkling feature is applied to ordinary steel structure decks 48 and 49, each provided with the usual top rails 50 upon which are suitably mounted, as by straps 51, the perforated pipe rails 42 that are connected in a similar manner by limbs 44', pipe 46 and valve 47 with the main 45.

I claim:

1. In a fire-escape, the combination with av support, of guides mounted on said support, side rails slidably mounted in the guides, and steps mounted to run on the rails and spaced apart to Jform* a stairway when the side rails are lowered, said steps being adapted to slide together upon the side rails under said guides.

Q. In a fire-escape, the combination of a support, guides mounted on said support and provided with elongated'eyes, side rails slidably mounted through .saidv eyes and adapted tobe accommodated in a slanting position, and steps mounted to run on the side rails and spaced apart to form a stairway when the side rails are extended aslant, said steps being adapted to slide together upon the side rails'under said guides.

3. ln a tire-escape, the combination with a wall, of a support upon said wall, guides mountedon said support adjacent the wall, side rails mounted to slide in the guides and alongside said wall, and steps mounted to run on the side rails and spaced apart to form a stairway when the side rails are lowered, saidfsteps being adapted to slide together upon the side rails under said guides kwhen 'said side rails are drawn up through the support and alongside the wall to,y thereby allowthe side rails only to extend up adjacentsaid wall.

n 4. ln a lire-escape, the combination of a4 support, disengageable guides mounted on saldfsupport, side rails slidably mounted in said guides and steps mounted to run on the side rails, flexible connections between the steps, and a flexible` connection detachably connected to said disengageable guides to support the topmost step when the side railsf'ar'e in place therein.

5. In a tire-escape, the combination of a support, guide members pivotally mounted on said support, said members each having semi-elliptical openings adapted to register one with another to form elongated eyes,

side rails slidably mounted through said eyes and adapted to be accommodated in a slanting position, steps mounted to run on the side rails, and flexible connections to carry the steps.

6. In a fire-escape, the combination with a support, of disengageable guides mounted on said support, said guides each comprising two members having semi-elliptical openings adapted to register with one another to form an elongated eye, side rails j constructed and arranged with relation tothe housing, so that in the lowered position said ladder will extend downward from said platform; a hinged door for said open mouth below said housed ladder, said door being arranged to be swung downward by gravitational force of said ladder as the same is lowered; and a latch releasably holding said door against downward swinging from its own gravity, but being releasable by pressure of the ladder against the door when said ladder is being lowered.

n 8. In a fire-escape, the combination with a support, of disengageable guides mounted on said support, side rails slidably mounted in said guides and steps mounted to run on the side rails, exible connections between the steps, a detachable connection adapted to be normally carriedby the disengageable guides to support the topmost step, and eyes in the upper portion of the side rails to carry said detachable connection whenever i the side rails are disengaged from said guides for the purpose set forth.-

9. In a ireeeseape, the combination with afwall, of a support upon said Wall, guides Y mounted on said support adjacent the Wall, side rails slidably mounted in said guides drum to Wind the line to fold the hand rails as the line becomes taut and to then raise the side' rails alongside said Wall as the line is drawn up.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, Czvdfornia,y this 25th day of October, 1913.

JAMES R. TOWNSEND, WILLIAM N. KIRKBY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

` Washington, D. C. 

